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Turkish Airlines, one of the world's fastest-growing carriers, is a major customer of both Airbus and its US rival Boeing.
State-owned Turkish Airlines is one of a handful of carriers whose dealings with plane-makers tend to accelerate around major diplomatic events.
In September, it signed a surprise provisional order for 40 Boeing 787-9 planes while Erdogan was in New York for the UN General Assembly.
The tentative Airbus deal was inked during a ceremony attended by Erdogan and his host, French President Emmanuel Macron. Turkish Airlines confirmed in a subsequent statement that it had begun negotiations with Airbus on the plane deal.
Airbus is also in negotiations to sell planes to China during a visit by Macron next week.